Sawby locking system, TRUBLUE FILET KNIFE

mbjannusch

mbjannusch

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Apr 1, 2010
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In 1988 Buck came out with the TRUBLUE Filet knife with the Sawby locking system. The knife disappeared in the 1989 catalog and then reappeared in the 1990 catalog but with a Locking system change. The knife lasted a few years and was replaced with the multitude of other filet knives Buck manufactured in the 80s and 90s.

From the little bit of information I have, the locking system failed and just about cut the thumb off of an important person being shown the the new knife.

Where did the name Sawby come from?

I ask these questions because I recently found a TRUBLUE with the Sawby locking system. I found one, and bought it new in the box. I would imagine with the system failing and the knife pulled from production and replaced with a new version utilizing a new locking system, this knife would be on the most wanted list of collectors. Does anybody have any information on the Sawby system and or the value of the piece as a collectors item...

Here are a few pictures of both the first edition (1988) and the later edition (1990)

here is the two side by side, the Sawby locking system on the left. The Sawby, you have to push the lock in and fold the blade back towards yourself to close it.


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The tangs of both, the Sawby displays the pat. # on the tang


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Both knives side by side, the newer of the two has rivets to hold the new locking system in place.


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The spine of both knives, showing the body lock of the newer locking system.


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The "Sawby" locking system was granted a patent to Scott Sawby in 1986. Shortly thereafter, he teamed with Buck to create the first knife with this locking system, the 531 Bucklock-1 which appeared in the 1988 catalog along with the two blade Model 535 Bucklock-2. About 2,000 531's and several hundred 535's were produced. Shortly thereafter, it was discovered that the locking mechanism failed to hold the blade in a locked position if excessive pressure was applied against the back of the blade (the infamous "wack" test). That, along with Buck's concern for potential liability about a lock release that placed one's fingers under the blade (which may have resulted from the incident about the cut tumb of the important person that you reference), resulted in cancellation of the model line and a recall of the knives that had already been issued. (However, as we all know, a great many of those klnives survived that recall). Apparently, the locking system failure at the time was the result of the bushing ball lock being too small for the size of the 531. I believe that Scott Sawby is still active in the knife world today.
 
Tin Sue
Thanks for the information. Do you have any idea what the Sawby locking system knives are worth. I would imagine that after the recall trying to find them and purchasing them became difficult. I know when I hear recall or defect, I think collectors dream...
 
Prices vary, but I typically see the 531 and 535 Sawbys, NIB, sell in the $250-$350 range (not as much as one might think), while the fillet knives NIB in the $200 range. After the recall, both the 531 and the 535 (and then adding the 532) were both converted to a lockback design and sold by Buck (first added in the 1991 catalog and discontinued in 1994). The 532 lockback appears to have a life of its own as it has been long been used as a limited edition.
 
Good job Aggie. Scott still resides near Sand Point, ID., making knives. A huge Swede. DM
 
I bought a Bucklock 1 about a two and a half years ago and paid $245.70 for it. New in the box with all the paperwork and brown leather sheath. I also have one of them that was used as the first BCCI Members knife (1 of 250). I also have the Sawby 535 and when I locate where I have them stored, I may be able to provide the amount I paid for those also.

It's interesting that the newsletter says that the Sawby 531 was never issued. There were some that made it out of the factory, as I have one of them.

Here's a few pictures and scans of them and some literature.

Sawbynewsletter.jpg


Sawbyflyer1988.jpg


sawbylocka.jpg


sawbylockb.jpg


sawbylockc.jpg


Sawby531a.jpg


Sawby531b.jpg


Sawbyd.jpg


This was posted by CJ:

"CJ Buck

Moderator Join Date:Apr 1999
Location:Post Falls, Idaho
Posts:888

You guys are a hoot...The Sawby #532 was a very interesting model for us. It was a new lock that if you "whacked" it just right the momentum of your strike would actually compress the locking spring which would unlock the knife. In a funny way it was designed to be a great knife that would fail the spinewhack everytime. There is a humorous in hindsight story of our Sales manager explaining why we were withdrawing the knife from production at a trade show to an account. He "spinewhacked" the heel of his shoe only to have the very sharp knife close on his hand. Bleeding profusely, he was not asked any further questions by the account. We went on the introduce the knife as a mid-lock instead.

One other caution I would say is the lock-up with liners and lockbacks is aided by the sharp corners of the two meeting materials. Each time you cause a lock failure you have broken down those corners so it will fail easier the next time. We put more testing in how much weight can the lock bear the wrong way. We use our #110 as a bit of a standard.

With that said I would also tell you to disengage whatever locking mechanism you are using fully before moving your blade closed. I watch people half unlock their knife and kind of force it the rest of the way and all they are doing is reducing their engagement for next time.

CJ Buck
Buck Knives, Inc.
AKTI Member #PR00003"
 
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Thanks, Plumber for the additional info on this model. Joe H. gave a wrap up on this model at the factory in 2008. Mr. Sawby corrected his lock back in 88 and reissued in 89. He puts out a very nice model today. DM
 
I don't think it is accurate that the 531 was never released. I have read several articles (can't find any of them now) that state that when Vern Taylor was organizing BCCI, and it was decided that the 531 would be the first club knife, that he searched retail establishments far and wide to secure a sufficient number of 531's for that club knife.
 
Tin
Did you read the news paper article that Dave posted, it said that the first 100, 531 were release and subsequently recalled. Although this thread was intended to talk about the Sawby TRUBLUE filet knife, I guess we had to cover the 531s and such to learn the history of the locking system. I was able to find the filet knife new in the box for $60.00, so I jumped all over it. I knew the locking system had been changed but didn't know the history.
 
Matt, I thought that a history and info was also what you were looking for ("Does anybody have any information on the Sawby system") so that's why I posted everything that I did.

I would have posted more about the filet knife, but I can't find anything to post other than there were 250 made. There dosen't seem to have been much interest in it or things written about it.
 
Plumberdv said:
Matt, I thought that a history and info was also what you were looking for ("Does anybody have any information on the Sawby system") so that's why I posted everything that I did.

I would have posted more about the filet knife, but I can't find anything to post other than there were 250 made. There dosen't seem to have been much interest in it or things written about it.
Click to expand...

Dave I definitely wanted the history, I just didn't realize that all the history was in the 500s and not in the filet knife. I love the history of Buck knives and this was a great lesson. Thanks for all of the news paper articles and clips. Those are proof of history that cant be refuted. Thats the history I love but seldom find.

By the way, I have an extreme interest in Buck filet knives. I have one from the 50s, all of the 121s and the mate series, and a few of the exclusives made for the BPS and such. I am always looking for one I dont have.
 
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Well, I've just about exhausted every place that I know to look for more info on the filet knives. Even the BCCI site has nothing that I can find.
 
Tin Sue said:
I don't think it is accurate that the 531 was never released. I have read several articles (can't find any of them now) that state that when Vern Taylor was organizing BCCI, and it was decided that the 531 would be the first club knife, that he searched retail establishments far and wide to secure a sufficient number of 531's for that club knife.
Click to expand...

Yes, thats correct. The club was organized by Vern in 88 and that model was the first club knife offered in 89. Several collectors here have them. DM
 
I almost bought a TRUBLUE Filet knife with the Sawby locking system for $50 a few years ago... I didn't like it and didn't know much about buck knives at the time...
I'm trying to buy it now... It didn't have the box... I hope they call me back... They had some other sweet bucks that I didn't know about... Thanks to you guys on the Bladeforum, I know alot more about Buck knives... :)
 
Plumberdv said:
You're welcome David. Here's a bit more.

SawbyVernTaylora.jpg


SawbyVernTaylorb.jpg
Click to expand...


Maybe you'all didn't read this but it did say that the first 100 531s and 200 539 had been shipped to retailers. Buck had to do a recall to try to get them back. Only a quarter of them came back. That means that they were released and at least 75 remained in public hands. I know 75 knives aren't many but to say they were never released is misleading and wrong...

OK maybe it's me that can't read, I thought the argument was that the knife was never released. My mistake.
 
I don't know why the Trublue filet knife was unpopular. I love the knife and thin it would make a great knife to filet fish. It has a stout feeling in hand, and a razor sharp blade. I guess maybe people didn't feel the same way with a folding filet knife as they did about a folding hunting knife. Some things work and some fall by the way side...

I wonder do any of you use the fishlocker knives (539, 549, 559), because this knife folds but is substantially lighter and feels a bit cheaper than the TruBlue...IMO or do you like just a fixed blade filet knife. I actually prefer a fixed to a folder...
 
The Sawby lock sure looks neat, but even without the spinewhack issue I'd be concerned about disengaging the lock in use. It looks like the lock release protrudes from the handle, and it looks easy to depress in use.
 
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